Company History

2016

In June of 2016, Auto Credit Express was acquired by Internet Brands, combining two automotive technology leaders into one of North America’s largest subprime automotive solution providers,
serving both consumers and automotive dealerships. Auto Credit Express joins Internet Brands’ rapidly growing Automotive division, which currently
serves the subprime automotive market through its flagship CarsDirect business. The Auto Credit Express brand will retain its existing product line, and will continue to operate from its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan

2014

Auto Credit Express continues to rank on the Inc. 5,000 list at 2,450 and the company grows to 125 employees.

Auto Credit Express, in partnership with the Summit Place Auto Group, raised over $90,000 for the Veterans Treatment court, an organization which helps United States military
veterans who are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. The money was raised through a series of charity fundraising events, a massive auction, and a raffle to win an electric car.

2013

Auto Credit Express once again ranks on the Inc. 5,000 list, making a significant leap to the rank of 2,045.

In December, the company passes the 100 employee benchmark.

2012

Auto Credit Express debuts on the Inc. 5,000 list at 4,391. The company grows to 85 employees.

2008

Auto Credit Express acquires Auto Net Financial.

The economic crisis hits hard. While many other companies and competitors went out of business or stopped adhering to their core values, Auto Credit Express continued to
help people when absolutely no one else was offering financing options to the people who needed it most.

2004

Auto Credit Express acquired the company Alternative Resources and Training. This acquisition included a software product called Inventory Manager,
and was the precursor to Auto Credit Express' LotPro software product. An industry-leading inventory management solution, this software is used by financing and sales personnel
inside dealerships in order to quickly match up a subprime car buyer with vehicles on the lot that they are approved to purchase.

2002

In September of 2002, Auto Credit Express began fielding requests from dealerships all around the United States who were interested in expanding their special financing programs.
This was the point when Auto Credit Express' focus began to shift heavily towards leveraging technology to efficiently connect car buyers with the dealerships who were equipped to help them.

2001

In December of 2001, as the Internet advanced and became an essential tool for business, ACE launched their online customer service.
Their objective was to help customers to their dealer clients throughout Michigan and Ohio. This service has since evolved and expanded considerably and now serves over a thousand dealerships nationwide as well as in Canada.

1999

Auto Credit Express® was founded in June of 1999 by Rich LaLonde. Since that time the company has been providing special financial services, through its dealer partners,
to customers with challenging credit backgrounds.

In early 1999, Rich introduced Auto Credit Express, Inc. (ACE), an independent operating company specializing in sub-prime auto financing.
Rich realized that the focus of the company should be on the consumer, utilizing the expertise of ACE and its employees.
With a staff of knowledgeable ACE employees at every location, the dealership partners quickly gained a new segment of loyal customers who were grateful for a second chance to establish their auto credit.

1996

Rich LaLonde is a Certified Public Accountant who began his profession as a dealership accountant. He quickly discovered his passion for the car business and went on to become vice-president at a dealership.
At this point he recognized that there was a great opportunity to help people in need of sub-prime vehicle financing. Rich gathered a team who shared the same vision and formed a corporation devoted solely to training those dealerships to provide sub-prime customers with auto financing. With this, Rich travelled the country, educating dealers and dealership staff in the art of special finance

In 1996, Rich established Special Finance Systems, which was the nation's leading special finance consulting company. Over time, as Rich began spending months in training with dealer clients,
the dealerships began requesting that he provide them with a special finance manager from his own team. In agreement, Rich began permanently placing his highly-trained personnel in dealerships.
In doing so, the opportunities increased for the dealerships to give their subprime buyers chances to restore their credit and happily purchase new and low-mileage used cars.
This idea proved to be a step in the right direction, as both Rich's company and his dealer clients soared in success.

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